Over 100 leading Canadian Angels and Venture capital investors are gathering at the newly opened Trump International Hotel & Tower for the Toronto Venture Forum (TVF), a first event co-organized with the Ontario, Quebec and New England communities. The TVF celebrates entrepreneurial and financial success stories, builds collaborations with universities and accelerators to improve entrepreneurs’ successes, and provides opportunities for co-investments in promising high-growth companies.

Keynote speakers celebrating Ontario and Quebec successes are Mr. Frank Erschen presenting the Waterloo ecosystem and Mr. Michel Brûlé presenting Quebec-based successes since the early 2000s’. The Director of Ryerson’s Entrepreneurship Center and the CEO of Montreal’s École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS)arepromoting partnerships between innovation and investment leaders.

Mr. Sam Hamad, Quebec Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Exportation, said: “Entrepreneurship and innovation are at the heart of Quebec’s priorities as these are major drivers of future economic development and job creation. We are proud to support our entrepreneurs by opening up the network of international investors in collaboration with Capital Innovation partners.”

“At a time when innovation is increasingly important to our prosperity, a healthy VC industry has never been more vital. We know that supporting innovators across the province means ensuring they have access to the capital and connections they need to turn great ideas into thriving companies. And that means new jobs and increased prosperity for all Ontarians,” said Brad Duguid, Ontario Minister of Economic Development and Innovation.

Mr Matey Nedkov, Chair of the Toronto Venture Forum, Director of the NACO and President of ICE, says: “Success for Canadian entrepreneurs relies on a close collaboration of Angel investors and Venture capital managers. This support from the start-up to the international growth phase is essential in creating the next generation of leading Canadian businesses.”

Ms. Patricia Lorenz, Chair of the Network of Angels Organization (NAO) in Ontario, adds: “Experience shows that Angel investors play a key role in the early stage of tech start-ups. The renewed dynamism of angel groups in Ontario and Quebec in recent years promises to create a new generation of highly successful entrepreneurs.”

Mr. Martin Duchaîne, President of Capital Innovation, adds: “Quebec and Ontario Angels and Venture capital managers are part of one of the world’s best innovation ecosystem on the East Coast of North America. Working together, we are ready to build world-class businesses and extend collaborations with Boston and New York-based investors and partners.”

The Toronto Venture Forum 2012 is organized with the kind support of the Quebec and Ontario governments and partners such as Teralys Capital, NAO Ontario, the École de technologie supérieure, Fasken Martineau, Centech (ÉTS’ accelerator center), Valeo, BDC, International Corporate Expension (ICE), Maple Leaf Angels, Burns & Levinson and FedDev.